CLOSE PROTECTION – WHAT IT TAKES TO BE THE BEST How to use this training unit: One of the primary skills of a CPO is having the ability to research data and to make sense of that data without jumping to conclusions – So use this introductory course to assess its validity and determine which parts are relevant to you! To help you along the way “all of it is relevant”, however depending on the role you wish to take depends on which sections you may decide to research further Within training all providers should be attempting to offer best practice and not quick fixes Try to think more intuitively, don’t look for errors to ridicule or for one up man ship, but to improve the narrative, to aid others allowing the course to become a fluid piece of work that ensures clarity and continuity So long as what you write is understood, spelling and punctuation can be forgiven some of the greatest minds where dyslexic Remember nothing is impossible, its just some things will take you longer to figure out – Think outside of the box to defeat the elite and the foolish who bury their heads in the sand. Remember just because its not in the manual doesn’t mean its good or bad, right or wrong, the essence of the manual is in the interpretation as well as the understanding
How to use this training unit: One of the primary skills of a
CPO is having the ability to research data and to make sense of
that data without jumping to conclusions So use this introductory
course to assess its validity and determine which parts are
relevant to you! To help you along the way all of it is relevant,
however depending on the role you wish to take depends on which
sections you may decide to research further Within training all
providers should be attempting to offer best practice and not quick
fixes Try to think more intuitively, dont look for errors to
ridicule or for one up man ship, but to improve the narrative, to
aid others allowing the course to become a fluid piece of work that
ensures clarity and continuity So long as what you write is
understood, spelling and punctuation can be forgiven some of the
greatest minds where dyslexic Remember nothing is impossible, its
just some things will take you longer to figure out Think outside
of the box to defeat the elite and the foolish who bury their heads
in the sand. Remember just because its not in the manual doesnt
mean its good or bad, right or wrong, the essence of the manual is
in the interpretation as well as the understanding
Prior to working within the Security Industry it is a
requirement for an operative to obtain a relevant course of
Training A 3 day First Aid course is required prior to embarking on
the training (The SIA website hasnt been updated to reflect this
yet) Please see Slide 3 ref industry requirements Obtain a Licence
prior to working This Licence is Valid for 3 Years The Licence
currently costs 220.00
Working as a Close Protection Operative brings with it a
requirement for Trust and Confidentiality therefore it would be
advisable to have a clean Criminal Record However the Law allows
for certain crimes to be discounted, therefore candidates wishing
to attend a Close Protection course should check with the SIA and
or their training Provider prior to releasing any cash or
depositThe Link below will allow you to check the criteria ifyou do
have a criminal
record:http://www.sia.homeoffice.gov.uk/pages/licensing-cri.aspx
Although not a requirement of the SIA Clients should always request
Advanced Criminal Records Checks on CP Teams
Read this BookThis book has quickly become the
leadingpublication on Close Protection and most recentlyrecommended
as a background reader for the FdAin Protective Security Management
atBuckinghamshire New University. Now having beendelivered to over
25 countries, the book has quicklybecome the book to read on Close
Protection.Effective, realistic and bluntly to the point, thebook
covers all aspects concerning operational andtraining requirements
without the inclusion ofsubjects that are simply not required. The
CloseProtection Book continues to be ordered by variousgovernment
departments as well as commercialorganisations
http://www.cpbook.co.uk/
First Aid Training When applying for your licence you will be
required to produce evidence that you have attained a recognised
first aid award. You should present your valid first aid
certificate to your training provider before you start your
training. If you do not have a recognised first aid award you will
need to get one in order to get your licence. This is in addition
to the knowledge and practical skills training. (SIA Website)First
Aid awards recognised by the SIA are: First Aid at Work - 3 day
course (Awarding Body Approved) First Person on Scene (FPOS)
Intermediate Award - 30 hours (Edexcel / IHCD)Employers are
currently demanding F-POS(I) as a minimum for active Service
overseas within countries such as Iraq and Afghanistan. Tier 1
& 2 Medics must be registered with the Health & Care
Professionals Council (HCPC)
The Security Industry Authority (SIA) requires all persons who
work within a Close Protection Role to be Licensed by the Authority
with a Close Protection Licence You must have completed 139.5 hours
of Training which roughly translates into 14 days You must
successfully Pass a 60-question multiple-choice examination paper,
achieving a score of at least 42 out of 60 and the Examination
duration lasts 2 hours You are also required to complete a personal
Portfolio of evidence that demonstrates your competence in the role
of a Close Protection Operative
Close Protection Specialist Modules Session 1: Roles and
Responsibilities of the Close Protection Operative Session 2:
Threat and Risk Assessment Session 3: Surveillance Awareness
Conflict Management Module Session 4: Operational Planning Session
5: Law and Legislation Session 1: Avoiding Conflict and Reducing
Session 6: Interpersonal Skills Personal Risk Session 2: Defusing
Conflict Session 7: Close Protection Teamwork and Briefing Session
3: Resolving and Learning from Conflict Session 8: Conduct
Reconnaissance Session 4a: Application of Communication Session 9:
Close Protection Foot Skills and Conflict Management for Drills
Security Guarding and Close Protection Session 10: Route Selection
Session 11: Close Protection Journey Management Session 12: Search
Procedures Session 13: Incident Management Session 14: Venue
Security Source SIA Website December 2012
Since the development of Close Protection Training guidelines
by the Security Industry Authority and the Sector Skills body -
Skills for Security, there has been a dramatic fall in formal
standards that had previously been set by Military & Police
Close Protection Instructors (CPIs) With the current Close
Protection courses following the bare minimum standard of the SIA
and an unprecedented amount of unfit training providers selling
courses in close protection whilst using instructors who have
either recently trained on a course themselves or who have not
formally practised the specialist art of the Executive Protection
Operative The SIA CP guidelines are unfit for purpose with the 150
hours simply not being enough to prepare an individual with no
previous specialist experience in Close Protection duties. If you
consider the current Close Protection courses as an introduction to
Executive Protection then you wont go far wrong
Currently in the UK The SIA have no protective stance on who
may train as a Close Protection Officer, there are no standards,
regulations or Legislation relating to who may attend a course In
essence if your training provider only cares about getting your
hard earned Cash then it is quite conceivable that you may be
attending a course with an enemy of your Nation or a Criminal
simply because they can pay According to the SIA to apply for a
Licence - There is no provision in their Legislation for anything
other than the following a. You must be over 18 years of age b. You
must be able to read and write English (Enough to Pass the Test) c.
You must attend and Pass an SIA Approved Course d. You Must be able
to provide Proof of Identity (See SIA Website) e. You Must have the
Right to work in the UK to Obtain an SIA Licence Your training
provider should check your age, Right to Work and Proof of Identity
before allowing you to take an Official Examination. This should be
confirmed with you prior to arriving or final payment for the
course
To be taken seriously as a Close Protection Operative you will
need to be adaptive, intelligent and have a good standard of
fitness that will enable you to deal with the many scenarios that
you could face such as: reaction to an immediate life threat, to
First Aid Incidents for a man down. The human body becomes a dead
weight whilst unconsciousness, now consider a 14 stone Principle -
could you drag them at least 100 yards and then if need be, fight
for your own life and that of your team? Fitness is certainly a key
element within Close Protection and certainly a mandatory
requirement for Military and Police Operatives the world over.
However there are still positions that can be filled for those not
up to active service on the front line, such as Control Room
Operations, Intelligence Co-Ordinator, Quarter Master and many
other essential roles that support active teams on the ground
Since the beginning of Civilisation Leaders have sort out the
most powerful & Skilled Warriors to protect them from their
political & Foreign enemies and to make way for them in crowds
whilst protecting them from Assassination Within the Art of War
& Politics their has always been a requirement for an Elite
Fighting Force whos skills, loyalty and dedication to service are
second to known The most famous of those are the Jaguars (ocelomeh)
and Eagles (quauhtin) of the Aztec Empire, Samurai & Ninjas of
Japan, The Myrmidons & Spartans of Greece and the Roman
Praetorian Guard, The Knights of England, all employed as
Bodyguards to VIPs & Kings, whether some of these where pure
myth or not makes no difference. The descriptions, roles and
actions have been documented and have been copied by modern forces
worldwide To be a member of these elite units you had to prove your
skills in warfare, tactics, loyalty and intelligence above and
beyond that of an ordinary soldier or citizen The same applies to
the modern Bodyguard Its more than just a course its a way of
life
Royal Military Police Close ProtectionClose Protection Unit -
RMP - TrainingOnly the most proficient Military Police Officers get
through selection RMP Close Protection Operatives undergo an
extensive 8-week training program that covers a range of
disciplines, including but not limited to: Advanced shooting
Advanced driving techniques Counter-surveillance
Hand-to-hand-combat Roles & Duties of the Protection Officer
The training course culminates in an extended exercise in which the
students must protect a VIP over a period of several days. Royal
Military Police Officers can apply for the Close Protection Unit
after six months service with the RMP. Initially trained by the
SAS, the RMP now runs its own close protection courses which train
other units. The RMP is part of the Provost Branch of the British
Armys Adjutant Generals Corps (AGC). A pair of Royal Military
Police (RMP) Close Protection Operatives, carrying C8 CQB carbines,
guard British Lt. Gen. John Cooper, the Deputy Commanding General
for Multi-National Force-Iraq in As Samawah, Iraq. US DoD photo by
Staff Sgt. Brendan Stephens
Special Air Service Regiment & SAS (R)The following is a
rough guide rather than a definitive one, selectionchanges
according to political & operational needs Many try to get into
the Special Air Service regiment. Most of them fail. Out of an
average intake of 100 plus candidates, the gruelling selection
process will weed out all but 10 or 20. There is now a joint
selection process giving access to other specialist units. Entrance
& Pre-acceptance, including Interview phase Selection Training
1 - Endurance Selection Training 2 - Jungle Training Selection
Training 3 - Escape & Evasion (E&E) & Tactical
Questioning (TQ) Selection Training 4 - Trade and Continuation
Training Finally they can now be put forward for SAS Close
Protection Course and a further 4 - 8 weeks of class room and
scenario based training
SO1, SO6, SO14 and SO16 Royal & Police Close Protection
Units The selection is a rigorous process for Police Officers and
involves intelligence tests, Psychometric testing, Physical
Fitness, Pressure testing and finally interview process Training
generally ends up being approximately 16 plus weeks training
involving the Following 1. Law & Order in relation to
Protection Services 2. Advanced & Protective Driving 3.
Firearms 4. Advanced First Aid 5. Advanced Search 6. Overt &
Covert Protection duties 7. Counter Surveillance & Surveillance
8. Operational ProceduresThese are key headings and not a precise
breakdownThere are several roles including Witness Protection,
VIPProtection, Overseas Protection duties etc. Where trainingmay
exceed the above with detachments to Special Forcesfor familiarity
training etc.
FIB State Protection Team Each Agent spends 20 weeks on
training including 850 hours of instruction (including 63 hours
that are web- based) in four major concentrations: academics, case
exercises, firearms training, and operational skills. In April
2008, they launched a revised curriculum that places more emphasis
on the collection and use of intelligence by special agents. Only
after completing the standard course will they be allowed to
continue on to Specialist roles within witness protection, VIP
Protection including leading Politicians The FIB & CIA train
their agents to a high standard incorporating all of the training
seen in other units listed here United States Special Forces from
the Army, Air Force and Navy all have Hostile Environment Close
Protection units protecting US interests around the world, their
training is similar to that of the Special Air Service who
regularly train with U.S. Special Forces
Basic Close Protection Training Course Advanced Driving &
CP Driving Skills CPT Self Defence including Weapons Advanced
Search (Including De-bugging) Firearms Training (Pistol and Rifles)
Shorts & Longs First Aid (Minimum F-POS (I)) More advanced the
better Surveillance & Counter Surveillance Hostile Environment
Training Planning & Map Appreciation Ports, Airports and
Railways Risk Assessment & Asset Protection UK &
International Law Social Interaction & Dining Counter Attack
Team (Roles, Responsibilities & Tactics) (CAT) This is by no
means all that you need to know, but it is the essentials of a
Professional CP Operative
The SIA standard is very low in the form of a general first aid
qualification designed for the workplace where ALS is only 15
minutes away. When you consider the role of the CPT/BG and the
likelihood that your VIP will be in remote areas more often than
most Due to the fact that someone with sufficient money to pay for
Close Protection is likely to go to or own a premises in remote
areas. Venues likely to be frequented by Principles vary and are as
diverse as you get Examples of these venues are 1. Remote
Mansion/Farm House with restricted access 2. Ports/Canals Canal
Barges, Speed Boats, Cruisers etc. 3. Unusual Meeting Areas Only
accessible by Helicopters and Off Road Vehicles, Boats, or Light
Aircraft 4. Busy Inner City high raise apartments. Even in Canary
Wharf it will take the London Ambulance crews at least 15 minutes
to attend, then a further 9 + minutes to get to the top floor Thats
24 minutes before Advanced Medical Care and if the Boss has had a
Heart Attack the prognosis isnt good 5. Early Defibrillation vastly
increases the chances of survival. Medical Assistance for the
client should be immediate and not a secondary thought, within the
CPT there should a full ALS medical kit enabling the CPT to keep
the Principle alive until a Doctor or Paramedics arrive. CPT =
Close Protection Team
The Operational Close Protection Officer must be able to Drive
All sorts of high performance vehicles in a wide range of
situations and scenarios Being able to drive like a chauffeur on
jobs where there is only you and the Principle or in an emergency
when a member of the team is taken ill without notice Security
Chauffeur College which is highlighted below runs a full course
specifically directed at the Security market with relevant
accreditation. Your Principle will rely on your skills as a driver
and your ability to protect his party on the move. Fail with your
driving skills and you fail as a Close Protection Team if your
principle feels unsafe in the car they will feel the same on the
ground There are many driving schools but as a CPT to need the
skills appropriate to the Industry
http://www.securitychauffeurcollege.com/close-protection-driver-course/
Self Defence within Close Protection is more dynamic than that
found in Door Supervision or other Security roles Knowing when to
deploy fighting skills is an essential part of your role, whilst
having an intimate understanding of soft and hard skills that
actually work Conflict Management is a must, your Principle doesnt
want to see you knocking people out or fighting like some kid in
the street especially with guests no matter how annoying they are.
Safe swift removal with tact and diplomacy
Searching is an Essential element in every area of Close
Protection from Corporate to Hostile Environment Car and Vehicle
Searching Including delivery Vans, Guests, Employees and
significant others Buildings Venues, Houses, Restaurants, Boats
Stables, Routes ECM Search: Electronic Counter Measures, Plugs,
wall sockets, Luggage, Lap Tops, tracking IED Searching Letter
Bombs, Fire Bombs, Vehicle or Mobile Devices, Hand Made or
Commercial Devices A good Search course should take no less than 5
days as the subject matter is diverse and sometimes very complex.
Now ask yourself how many CPOs have pictures of what the underside
of their vehicle looks like without an IED or what a wall plug
should look like clear of any bugs and we arent talking cockroaches
here
Surveillance and Planning go hand in hand as a part of the CPOs
portfolio of skill Sets Covert & Overt operations require
Patience, Stealth, Knowledge and Resilience, Tact, Team Work, Clear
writing and a clear understanding of Human Psychology Surveillance
Operatives also require an in depth Knowledge of the Law and how
their actions could bring the Principle into disrepute or can bring
them into conflict with Law Enforcement Units Tools of the trade:
Cameras, Camcorders, Maps, Transmitters, Cars, Vans, Camouflage,
Receivers, Note Books, Binoculars and Night Vision Devices The SO
must be able to communicate clearly with others including external
units and CCTV Operatives as well as be able to work alone for long
periods of time Concentration can be a problem after 6 hours
watching a door through a very small hole, or it may be
uncomfortable due time spent in one position, so fitness is of
paramount importance.
http://www.intelsecurity.co.uk/about-us/about-us.htm
To be a Professional it takes dedication It will cost you money
You will have to learn new things Your interests should be as
varied as your clients (Horses, Boats, Travel, Opera, Arts, Etc.)
Always think outside of the BOX Trust no one Always cover your back
If you cant do it yourself LEARN how to Research Everything If you
have anything constructive to say email us at
[email protected] Links to Peter Jenkins, Richard Aitch and
the Security Chauffeur College have been entered because I believe
they provide quality training, that will enhance your career. I
have no direct business relationship to any of them
www.atlantianbsgroup.com 07725970954